TORONTO, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Toronto's main stock index eked
out a small gain on Tuesday, ending a three-session losing
streak, as a rise in financials on hopes generated by U.S. home
sales data offset commodity stock weakness.

But it was a largely directionless day that saw the index
trade in a 123-point range from trough to peak.

About an hour before the session ended, the big financial
services sector gained momentum, tracking optimism in the U.S.
over a surprise jump in December pending home sales.

A report there showed buyers were lured back into the
market by lower prices and mortgage rates. [ID:nN03524582] The
sector finished up 0.7 percent.

"The home sales is a very important number because the
thing is that's sort of where the problem really originated,"
said Robert A. Floyd, president R.A. Floyd Capital Management
Inc.

"If we're starting to see a little bit of strength there
it's a little encouraging because that's the one area where we
really have to see a turnaround occur for this marketplace to
get better."
Continued...